30+ Best Android Apps & Android Games: December 2012

Here are the best Android apps & Android game recommendations of the month reviewed by the experts at AndroidTapp in December 2012! Browse by recommended app collections; photo editing, educational and travel apps. They all are vetted for superior quality and we only list apps & games rated 4.0 and higher out of a 5.0 star scale. Download or buy these top apps with convenient one-click tools below:

SnapseedFreeSnapseed is the popular new photo editing app from Nik Software Inc. The application is quite fashionable at the moment for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it was hugely popular on iOS and, if the initial popularity of Instagram and Temple Run are anything to go by, Android users like to snap up apps that have also been popular on Apple’s ecosystem. Secondly, Snapseed was recently purchased by Google and this app was soon released. However, one area where the Google Play Store is heaving with options is photo editing, so how good is Snapseed?

MyEffects – create your own photo filters with this app!FreeMyEffects – Photo Editor is a novel and innovative photo editing application for Android. “Another photo editing app?” I hear you ask. Well yes, but this one’s a bit different. The app lets you create your own random effects and save your favourites. It comes with no filters as such, but effects which you can add and customise yourself. Fed up with having to select pre-set filters? This might just be the remedy you’re looking for.

Photo Painter – add cool paint effects plus filters & frames to your pictures!Free, $1.99Photo Painter is an innovative photo editing tool for Android devices. Now, while it seems like the Google Play Store is flooded with such apps, there is room for those which aren’t just a range of filters and frames. Photo Painter is a little different in that- in addition to predefined filters it provides an array of painting effects that can be used to create entirely new styles of pictures.

Social & News

Falcon Pro (for Twitter) – near perfect Twitter app for Android$0.99Falcon Pro (for Twitter) is a gorgeous-looking yet significantly functional Twitter client for Android. If this sounds a little familiar, the app is developed by the same fellow that brought us Falcon for Twitter, a feature-rich homescreen widget. However, this is a full, paid-for and altogether different application that works brilliantly and is chock-full of features. If the widget was never going to be enough for your needs, this is the perfect solution.

Reddit Sync Pro – a redditor’s must-have appFree, $1.99Reddit Sync Pro is a sleek and customisable reddit client for Android. It includes a gorgeous ’Holo’ themed user interface and plenty of user-friendly features including: download content for offline use, in-line image previews, themes and the ability to post content directly from the app with absolute ease. Whether you are a hardcore redditor or just use it for browsing memes, this is an app you’ll want to check out.

Educational

Reading Trainer – an educational app to improve reading speed & comprehension~$1.99Reading Trainer is a beautifully designed and extremely useful education app that helps you improve your reading. Now, before you contest “but I can read already! What do you think I’m doing right now!?” this is very much about improvement, so it concentrates on increasing reading speed and comprehension. If you typically read a lot of text during your day-to-day life, this can make you more productive and teaches you advanced reading techniques.

Travel

UK Bus Checker – hugely useful & convenient app for residents or travelers in the United KingdomFreeUK Bus Checker is a hugely useful app for UK-based Android users who travel by bus. Whether you live in the UK permanently or plan on visiting and using the bus service, this is the app to have. It displays a healthy list of times when the bus is due dependent on your location and even displays the bus route so you know exactly where you are going. It offers a fresh interface, is easy to use and even a handy widget.

Music Visualizer

Audio Glow Music Visualizer – awesome Android app to visualize music in your home theaterFreeAudio Glow Music Visualizer is an awesome music app that displays cool graphics as your music plays. Featuring a number of great looking customisations, it’s a neat feature to have if you use your Android device for playing music on. It works with the music player of your choice and displays the name of the track and the artist in the background. If you like plugging your device into proper speakers and want a cool app to compliment that, this is one to check out.

TV Remote

Peel Smart Remote – use your Galaxy Tablet as an advanced TV remoteFreePeel Smart Remote app allows you to use your tablet as an advanced TV remote control. In addition to flicking through channels, you gain access to cable & local television programming with cover art thumbnails, look ahead to upcoming programming, set reminders to watch and save favorites. If you have a capable device, this app is a cool and convenient download!

Apps for Children

Clay Jam – play this innovative & delightful ‘Claymation’ gameFree plus In-app PurchasesClay Jam is a cute and innovative “indie-style” game from none other than Zynga! Created by developer Fat Pebble, the game has been crafted using claymation (an area you might be familiar with if you know the work of Nick Park). In the game you manipulate the path of a little blob (also called Fat Pebble) as it rolls over monsters and grows in size. At the end of each level you face off a horrible Bully Beast in an exciting and genuinely refreshing game perfect for touchscreens.

Christmasville: Missing SantaFree to download, In-game purchase $2.99Christmasville: Missing Santa takes you through a fairy tale like trip to Santa’s home and save Christmas! Christmas is in danger! Santa Claus has been abducted from his home at the North Pole. You play from the perspective of Arthur Knight, a private detective who reluctantly starts his own investigation of the сase of the missing Santa. Get ready for a magical plot twists and encounters with the fairy tale characters, because the first person you will meet will be the Abominable Snowman! The poor fellow so concerned about the disappearance of Santa that he is ready to go to search for him at the North Pole.

Awesome Action Games

Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour. The Call Of Duty clone for Android, iPhone & iPad!$6.99, optional In-app PurchasesModern Combat 4: Zero Hour is Gameloft’s newest first-person shooter war combat game for Android & iOS. You cannot go long without referencing it to the Call of Duty console gaming series. Similar to the consoles, this mobile game features breathtakingly realistic 3D graphics, shooting, sniping, weapons, explosions and much more. You can play in ‘Campaign’ mission mode to follows the story of elite soldiers tracking & rescuing world leaders from a menacing terrorist group or play run-and-gun style with endless battles against other players from around the world online in real-time. Read, watch… experience this game review!

M.U.S.E. – battle cyborg army in this gungho action filled third-person shooter game for Android$1.99M.U.S.E. is an immersive 3D action game where you take the role of “bad ass” government agent Sid Tripp (not as macho a name as Contract Killer 2‘s Jack Griffin but still pretty hardcore!), and you’re tasked to take down an aggressively psychotic cyborg army. Battle your way through lush and detailed 3D environments, use an assortment of powerful weapons and, of course, save the world.

International Boxing Champions – a ‘Must try’ game for Boxing fansFree plus In-app PurchasesInternational Boxing Champions is a bruising boxing game that sees you take on a variety of crisply animated foes of increasing toughness. Combine blocking and moving forward with six different punches (three on each side) to knock down your opponent. If you’re a fan of Android pugilism, read on for more!

Brain-teasing Puzzle Games

Plague Inc – evil strategy game to infect the world with disease & dominate humanityFreePlague Inc is a detailed impact simulator where you spread deadly afflictions upon the world’s population. Whether you want to spread a deadly brain worm by starting it in India or infect the people of Iceland with a virus that makes them paranoid, the choice is yours. The aim of the game is simple, subdue the population of the world as effectively as you can. A game for wannabe evil geniuses? Probably. Perhaps a bit sinister? Certainly. Will it get you funny looks if you play it in public? Definitely. Addictive as hell? You betcha!

Freeze!Free, In-app PurchasesIt was a wonderful day for our anonymous hero, at least until the moment when he was torn from his loved ones by a viciously sharp grappling hook. Locked in a cramped cell on a planet far, far away, our hero could give in to despair and abandon himself to his fate. But with your help he can overcome gravity, turn worlds, and even – escape!

MegaFlux – if you love challenging logic puzzle games, then you must play this!FreeMegaFlux is a challenging and compelling puzzle game for Android. The game plays a little like a blend of Flow Free, Trainyard and SpaceChem- a twisting, connecting, logic-testing plumber-style game that is massively rewarding and nail-bitingly tough. If you like your game mind-bending and fresh, be sure to give this a look.

Square Smash Tetris Free – fun & addictive puzzle game for all agesFreeSquare Smash Tetris Free is a fun and addictive puzzle game that sees you dismissing three or more blocks by tapping on them. The blocks pop up one row at a time from the bottom and you have to prevent them from reaching the top of the screen. Coming with different speeds, different modes of play and crisp graphics, it’s simple to play and engaging for children and adults alike.

Tycoon Builder & Time Management Games

Prehistoric Park – fun Tycoon game to build & manage a Flintstones-style theme park!FreePrehistoric Park is a fun tycoon game that requires you to manage a Flintstones-style theme park for the local cave people. The game features cutely animated graphics and excellent sound, in addition to engaging gameplay. There are dozens of rides, accessories and other items to buy and, as with any tycoon game, plenty to collect and grow. If you enjoy these polished accumulation games, you’ll really enjoy this.

Casual Time-waster Games

Autumn WalkFree, plus In-app PurchasesAutumn Walk is a sweet and addictive game in which you walk a Victorian gentleman and his pet dog ‘Colin’ around a park. Admittedly this might not continue your rush of adrenaline if you’ve just been playing ShadowGun, but the game is wonderfully quirky and certainly an original concept

Star Girl – fun & casual Fashion SIM gameFree, plus In-app PurchasesStar Girl puts you in the high heels of an aspiring celebrity who is setting out to build her career as a superstar while having a ton of fun along the way! You’ve got the looks, but it takes more than that to be a star! Be it singing, acting or modeling, make sure to strut your stuff in the career of your choice. Work hard to make it to the top, and you might even find yourself on the covers of the most popular fashion and lifestyle magazines! Just remember that first impressions are the most important, so make sure to wear only the trendiest outfits.

BumbleBee Race – a fun game for the family to tilt your busy bee through oncoming traffic$0.99Bumble Bee Race is a cute obstacle-style race where you guide a bee through oncoming traffic using your Android’s tilt control. Avoid cars, trucks, bikes and other obstacles to increase your score and complete levels. It’s challenging to play, cutely animated and pretty engaging. If you enjoy accelerometer controlled arcade-style games, you’ll love this.

Pong Galaxy – new game adds a twist to classic Pong Free, plus In-app PurchasesPong Galaxy is an exciting refresh on the 1970′s gaming hit Pong. In the original you merely controlled a vertically moving paddle to defend a blip of pixels. Here however the graphics, while still retro, are far more detailed and now there is a plot, power ups and a range of challenging enemies to face off.

Froad – here’s a family-friendly & addictive bug snatching game$0.99Froad is a beautifully challenging and fun arcade-style game where you play Froad (Frog/Toad). Froad has to eat as many good bugs as he can and avoid the bad ones. His demands change constantly so you have to keep up with his requirements. It’s lots of fun and certainly engaging enough to entertain both adults and children alike but.